Grand Hotel de Kinshasa / Refurbishment by Lonrho.

[BUTEMBO21]

Biz-Community (Cape Town)
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South Africa: Lonrho Hotels to Manage Grand Hotel Kinshasa.
6 February 2012

Lonrho Hotels, a wholly owned division of Lonrho Plc, has announced that it has entered into a ten year management agreement for the 450-room Grand Hotel Kinshasa, formerly the InterContinental Hotel, in the capital of Democratic Republic of the Congo.

The Grand Hotel Kinshasa, seen here in the centre of the image, is to undergo major refurbishment under Lonrho Hotels management; the refurbishment will take about two years.

With panoramic views across the mighty Congo River the Grand Hotel Kinshasa is located in its own grounds at the heart of the diplomatic and commercial district of the Congolese capital.

Lonrho Hotels has been mandated by the Government to upgrade the hotel to its former glory as one of the leading five star hotel and conference venues in Central Africa.

According to international consultants McKinsey, Kinshasa is forecast to grow into Africa's largest city by 2025 and, following the recent elections, it is expected that the DRC will enter a period of strong economic growth.

The Grand Hotel Kinshasa has 450 bedrooms, of which only 238 are currently operational. The management agreement includes a commitment from Government that the hotel will undergo a major refurbishment to re-open the closed 212 additional bedrooms, create extensive new lounge and lobby areas, two new restaurants, and a Grand Club Floor and Lounge. The refurbishment is scheduled to be complete over the next twenty-four months.

Large conference capacity, and more

The hotel also has a conference capacity for 2000 delegates and provides outside catering services for major events and meetings. The hotel includes a casino, nightclub, shopping mall, swimming pool and recreational facilities that will be reinstated.

Lonrho also operates the Grand Hotel welcome lounge and restaurant at Kinshasa airport and provides a seamless meet-and-greet service for guests ensuring they have a safe and rapid transit to the hotel.

This Management Agreement has been signed following Lonrho's successful and highly acclaimed redevelopment to an international five star standard in 2010 of the Grand Karavia in Lubumbashi, the second city of the DRC and the centre of the country's mining industry. The Grand Karavia in Lubumbashi has since added three tourist lodges to its offering and for the first time the Ministry of Tourism recently exhibited at the World Travel Market in London, where the DRC received considerable interest from the international travel trade.

Both business and leisure travellers will benefit from the convenience, reliability and personalised service provided by Lonrho Hotels, whether in Lubumbashi or Kinshasa, during their time in the DRC.

One of Africa's 'finest hotels'

All Lonrho Hotels deliver international standards, superb restaurants and high-speed internet access in a sympathetic friendly environment.

http://allafrica.com/stories/201202070566.html

[Broda-Man]

Originally Posted by BUTEMBO21

Biz-Community (Cape Town)
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South Africa: Lonrho Hotels to Manage Grand Hotel Kinshasa.
6 February 2012

Good news in troubled times. Thanks Butembo.

[BUTEMBO21]

I wonder if this is how its going to be.

[BUTEMBO21]

Originally Posted by Broda-Man

Good news in troubled times.

Good news for the industry indeed. Quality above all.

I just wish someone would have a vision to make the unfinished Regina Hotel come to life.

[Broda-Man]

Originally Posted by BUTEMBO21

Good news for the industry indeed. Quality above all.

I just wish someone would have a vision to make the unfinished Regina Hotel come to life.

What is the story behind Regina hotel ?

[Pius]

Very good news indeed. For once, the government has made a judicious decision. Without a thorough refurbishment, the Grand Hotel would sink lock stock and barrel. The hospitality industry in Kin is changing dramatically. This year alone a 5-star hotel (Fleuve Congo Hotel) and a 6-star hotel (Hilton Hotel) will open. In its current state, GHK will not survive the competition.

[BUTEMBO21]

Originally Posted by Pius

Very good news indeed. For once, the government has made a judicious decision.

It seems to be making right decisions in this field.

Without a thorough refurbishment, the Grand Hotel would sink lock stock and barrel. The hospitality industry in Kin is changing dramatically. This year alone a 5-star hotel (Fleuve Congo Hotel) and a 6-star hotel (Hilton Hotel) will open. In its current state, GHK will not survive the competition.

+1000

[fbeavis]

How many hotel rooms are there in Kinshasha and who stays in them? I imagine it it mostly business people from the PRC. Kin-la-poubelle needs to do something about the garbage, the bad infrastructure, and the corrupt officials to bring more people to these hotels.

[kaps76]

Originally Posted by Pius

Very good news indeed. For once, the government has made a judicious decision. Without a thorough refurbishment, the Grand Hotel would sink lock stock and barrel. The hospitality industry in Kin is changing dramatically. This year alone a 5-star hotel (Fleuve Congo Hotel) and a 6-star hotel (Hilton Hotel) will open. In its current state, GHK will not survive the competition.

Hi Pius,

Isnt the Grand Hotel owned by a majority private group, and the governement a minority stakeholder?

[BUTEMBO21]

Originally Posted by kaps76

Isnt the Grand Hotel owned by a majority private group, and the governement a minority stakeholder?

Welcome back Kaps,

Grand Hotel is owned by the Government (Registered in the Ministry of Porfolio ). Its a private agency managing the hotel. (I think).

[kinkiesse]

Originally Posted by BUTEMBO21

I wonder if this is how its going to be.

Am dreaming or what? I always thought that for Grand Hotel, the older small tower was 250 rooms and the new taller tower had about 500 rooms capacity. Thus giving it a total of about 750 rooms. Is this refurbishment only for the tall tower? Since i knew for a long time that the small tower had been unused for quite a while.

Anyways it's better to give management to professionals. I guess it wouldn't have happened until Lonhro proved itself with Karavia

[kinkiesse]

Originally Posted by BUTEMBO21

Welcome back Kaps,

Grand Hotel is owned by the Government (Registered in the Ministry of Porfolio ). Its a private agency managing the hotel. (I think).

To all well versed Congolese out there, this is another proof confirming that Congo has been tilting toward the Anglo-saxon sphere of influence side for a while. I believe it is better for Congo to deal with with the Anglo-saxons rather than the francophones

[BUTEMBO21]

Originally Posted by kinkiesse

To all well versed Congolese out there, this is another proof confirming that Congo has been tilting toward the Anglo-saxon sphere of influence side for a while. I believe it is better for Congo to deal with with the Anglo-saxons rather than the francophones

It has nothing to do with Francophone or Anglosaxons. It rather has something to do with with doing business. Chinese, Japanese, Russians are not Francos nor Anglos. but we do business with them.

[BUTEMBO21]

Originally Posted by kinkiesse

Am dreaming or what? I always thought that for Grand Hotel, the older small tower was 250 rooms and the new taller tower had about 500 rooms capacity. Thus giving it a total of about 750 rooms. Is this refurbishment only for the tall tower? Since i knew for a long time that the small tower had been unused for quite a while.

Anyways it's better to give management to professionals. I guess it wouldn't have happened until Lonhro proved itself with Karavia

The entire Hotel is 450 rooms. not sure where you got 750 rooms from.

[Pius]

Originally Posted by kaps76

Hi Pius,

Isnt the Grand Hotel owned by a majority private group, and the governement a minority stakeholder?

Hi Kaps,

The GHK is equally owned by the state (50%) and the « Compagnie de distribution africaine » (50%), which is owned by Mr. Philippe de Moerloose, a Belgian citizen.

[kinkiesse]

Originally Posted by BUTEMBO21

The entire Hotel is 450 rooms. not sure where you got 750 rooms from.

My bad then!

[kinkiesse]

Originally Posted by BUTEMBO21

It has nothing to do with Francophone or Anglosaxons. It rather has something to do with with doing business. Chinese, Japanese, Russians are not Francos nor Anglos. but we do business with them.

This statement was not really economic but more political. Maybe in an appropriate setting i could expand on it a bit more. Of course we get investors from all walks of life but politically Congo is more in the Anglo-saxon sphere of influence as opposed to the French/Belgian sphere of influence during MObutu's era. For example Great Britain did a lot technically to help Congo reach PPTE mark to erase chunk of its debt and smooth out tensions with Rwanda.

Great Britain has become now Congo's number one state donor in front of Holland and Belgium. Great Britain is also working with Congo's government to help it reach the Millenium developmental goals by 2015 the same way she is helping her former colonies which includes the free primary school initiative in Congo (Except Kin and Lubumbashi). Soon, ANAPI ( investment arm of government) will sign a deal with a British entity to help Congo better attract investments. And there is a lot more

[kinkiesse]

This article gives me chills!!

RDC: Course contre la montre a Kinshasa
Jeuneafrique.com - le premier site d'information et d'actualité sur l'Afrique

Kinshasa accueillera le XIVe Sommet de la Francophonie en octobre. Mais la capacité d'hébergement de la capitale de la RDC est loin d'être à la hauteur...
Chefs d'État et de gouvernement venus de 75 pays, personnalités politiques, du monde de la culture ou du développement... En tout, 3 000 participants sont attendus à Kinshasa, du 12 au 14 octobre, lors du 14e sommet de la Francophonie. Le coup de pub pour la capitale de la RDC est évident. Mais pour cela, « Kin » devra d'abord démontrer sa capacité à héberger tout ce beau monde. Si le problème est résolu pour les chefs d'État, accueillis dans la Cité de l'Union africaine, reste à savoir où seront logés les autres visiteurs de marque et tous les participants.

Un début de solution apparaît à La Gombe, la commune la plus huppée de la capitale, avec plusieurs ensembles hôteliers de grand standing en cours de réalisation. L'un est situé en bordure du fleuve Congo, près du Beach Ngobila, le port fluvial. Le projet du Modern Congo Trade Center, d'un montant de 100 millions de dollars (75,8 millions d'euros), comprend deux tours : l'une accueillera des commerces et des bureaux ; l'autre, de 22 étages, sera un hôtel de 230 chambres, avec plusieurs boutiques, restaurants et discothèques. Financé par Modern Construction Congo (MCC), une société immobilière dirigée par l'Indien Harish Jagtani, l'établissement sera géré par le groupe Hilton.
Toujours en bordure du fleuve, dans la partie ouest de La Gombe, c'est China Railway Engineering Corporation qui s'active autour du Centre de commerce international du Congo. Un investissement de 35 millions de dollars devrait permettre de transformer cette tour de 32 niveaux, construite sous Mobutu et appartenant à l'État, en un Hôtel du fleuve Congo de 280 chambres.

"Insuffisant"
De son côté, le Grand Hôtel Kinshasa (GHK), détenu à parité par l'État et la Compagnie de distribution africaine, du Belge Philippe de Moerloose, réhabilite l'un des bâtiments vides. Le GHK mettra 420 chambres à la disposition de sa clientèle, dont plusieurs suites et appartements, lorsque les travaux réalisés par l'italien Consonni, d'un montant de 40 millions de dollars, seront terminés. Avec le Memling, propriété de la Compagnie des grands hôtels africains, qui comprend 180 chambres, La Gombe disposera alors de quatre cinq-étoiles, soit environ 1 200 chambres. « C'est insuffisant quand la ville doit héberger de grandes manifestations », assure Romain Felber, administrateur délégué du GHK.
80% C'est la proportion d'établissements kinois n'ayant aucune étoile.

Tout n'est donc pas réglé. La capitale congolaise compte officiellement 1 049 hôtels et 12 474 chambres, mais elle manque cruellement de structures de moyen standing. Les trois et quatre-étoiles, principalement localisés à La Gombe, ne représentent que 2 % du parc. Selon un rapport de la division urbaine du tourisme du gouvernorat, 80 % des établissements de Kinshasa n'ont aucune étoile.

Addition salées
De nombreux hôtels ont été créés par des hommes d'affaires locaux qui ont peu d'expérience dans ce secteur. Du coup, la conception des chambres, le confort et les services laissent à désirer, alors que les additions sont souvent salées. Les prix varient de 150 à 200 dollars la nuitée et peuvent dépasser les 300 dollars. Une dérive qui s'explique par la concurrence limitée, l'obligation d'importer de nombreux produits et la pratique des exclusivités. Le GHK dépense ainsi 20 000 dollars par mois pour sa seule connexion internet.

Conscient des problèmes, le commissariat général du Comité national d'organisation du 14e sommet de la Francophonie cherche des solutions. « Nous avons sélectionné les établissements qui présentent un certain confort dans trois zones - La Gombe, Ma Campagne et Lingwala - où se dérouleront les principaux événements. Les hôteliers doivent faire un effort pour mettre à niveau leurs équipements et former leur personnel. Nous prendrons des dispositions pour bloquer les prix pendant le sommet », assure Isidore Ndaywel, le commissaire général. Sera-t-il entendu ?

[kinkiesse]

Originally Posted by BUTEMBO21

The entire Hotel is 450 rooms. not sure where you got 750 rooms from.

My bad, I confused it with the Hotel Ivoire Intercontinental in Abidjan, which also has 2 towers just like the one in Kinshasa. Apparently according to rumours, after Mobutu's visit to Abidjan in the late 60's, he was so impressed by the hotel that he asked Intercontinental to also build one in Kin.

Not sure, but according to an uncle who worked there, it was BOT ( build, operate and transfer) arrangement with Intercontinental which expired in 1998 when ownership was handed to the Congolese government. After further disagreement with Laurent Kabila governement, Intercontinental pulled out completly and become 100% congolese. I guess the new belgian partner must have come on board later. If someone can confirm this.

[Pius]

Originally Posted by kinkiesse

Not sure, but according to an uncle who worked there, it was BOT ( build, operate and transfer) arrangement with Intercontinental which expired in 1998 when ownership was handed to the Congolese government. After further disagreement with Laurent Kabila governement, Intercontinental pulled out completly and become 100% congolese. I guess the new belgian partner must have come on board later. If someone can confirm this.

The GHK was not a BOT project. From the outset, it was co-owned by the Congolese state through the “Société des grands hôtel du Congo” and the “InterContinental Hotel Corporation”. The Intercontinental Company signed a 20 year management contract with the Congolese state, which expired in 1991 and was extended for another period of 10 years. In 1999, Intercontinental terminated the management contract but remained co-owner of the hotel. In 2010, it sold its share to Philippe Moerloose.